After three long years of wait, the Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi (IIM-R) put its first step on its permanent adobe at Cheri village under Kanke Block, about 18 km from Ranchi as the first foundation stone for the premier B-School was laid here on Monday.
Union HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Chief Minister Hemant Soren along with senior officials of Government of India, State Government and the IIM-R were present on the occasion.During the ceremony Ramesh requested Chief Minister Hemant Soren to provide permanent land for Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) near Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) and Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi (IIM-R) thereby developing Cheri-Manatu area at Kanke block as an educational hub.
"Higher Education institutions can be carried out on barren land existing at Cheri-Manatu villages. In consideration with this aspect, CUJ and IIM-R have been allotted land after being denied from agricultural land of Nagri village, IIIT can also be settled here easily as it has also faced the same denial and lacks campus infrastructure."Ramesh asked Chief Secretary RS Sharma to locate land for IIIT at the earliest. "IIIT must also be made here," Ramesh requested Pallam Raju.
It is to be noted, Jairam paved the way for IIM-R's campus finally at Cheri after his meeting with Jharkhand based Social Activist Dayamani Barla three to four months back who suggested her to accommodate the Nagri proposed higher educational institutions somewhere at Cheri-Manatu since it would not encroach farming land in this region and has adequate availability of barren land.
Both Ramesh and CM Hemant Soren insisted on developing the entire Cheri-Manatu area or Sukurhuttu as an Educational Hub.Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr MM Pallam Raju said, "local problems must be studied before establishing a Higher Education institution. Such institutions in backward region like Jharkhand are beneficial."Ramesh, who has always been putting efforts to uplift the tribal culture of this state informed that his department has sanctioned IIM-R to undergo an impact assessment of Saranda Development Plan.
Similar to Ramesh, Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay too echoed for tribal growth. "IIM-R students must work for Jharkhand state's development model especially in the tribal culture perspective," said Subodh.Thanking everyone for the historical day, IIM-R Director MJ Xavier explained on how they got the land after discussing the urgent infrastructural hurdle details with Raju during his visit to Ranchi in February first week for Ranchi University's convocation ceremony.
According to Xavier, IIM-R had to do topographical mapping, boundary wall construction and architectural design before they could start the actual set up. He said, "It may take around a year." Following on Xavier's assurance, students said, "The functioning of our institution at Cheri will begin after three to four years." Additional Secretary (T) Amita Sharma, Government of India, Chief Secretary RS Sharma and Kanke Member of legislative Assembly RC Baitha were also present here and motivated IIM-R's plans to solve state's problems as a consultant.